2014 Budget: Osun Assembly Firmly Warns MDAs Not To Deviate From Approved Budget

By Gbenga Faturoti/Osogbo

Najeem Salaam.
Osun State House of Assembly has threatened to scrap any ministry or agency of government that deviates from the budget plan for 2014.
The Speaker, Najeem Salaam, gave the warning at a budget defence of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the floor of the parliament.
While tasking the MDAs in the state to always work in tandem with the outlined Six Point Integral Action Plan of the government, he said “the state parliament would not hesitate to wipe any ministry or agency of government that deviates the budget plan to the line”.
Salaam, who stressed that the era of foot-dragging on budget implementation was over, said setting the positive evaluation of budget in the previous year was made possible by the openness of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration which was not averse to the oversight functions of the parliament.
He said: “We shall continue to give the MDAs the way they choose to give it to us. We shall step up our constitutionally-guaranteed oversight functions on all agencies of the government, not to witch-hunt anyone, but to procure positive result for our people.
“Let it be known that we are working for the people, and the overall interest of the state must come first in our dealing. So, it must be registered that where people’s interest clashes with the narrow interest, the former must prevail.”
The Speaker, while appreciating the enormous task before the Finance and Appropriation committee, demanded the cooperation of all heads of ministries and agencies of government, saying that all books would be checked for transparency and accountability.
DAILY INDEPENDENT